New Kids at the Beach: Pandora’s Box

Pandora’s Box opens coastal branch

Published on June 21, 2018 2:49PM

LUKE WHITTAKER

“I love it,” said Pandora’s Box store manager Tommy Morgan. “It was the first job where I didn’t need a lot of training. I was just in my element. I’ve been a bartender, waiter, librarian — lots of customer service … I just enjoy helping people.”

An array of smoking accessories and adult novelty items are available Pandora’s Box. “We’re an old school head shop,” said manager Tommy Morgan. “We have anything a 420 or 710 enthusiast would dig. But even if you don’t smoke, we have clothes, crystals and cool hippy things.”

SEASIDE — There are now five stores spread across Oregon and Washington after the latest location officially opened in Seaside in February. Glass pipes and bongs, incense and candles, Kratom and CBD oil, and a “vault” of adult novelties make up a majority of the inventory.

“We’re the old school head shop,” said Pandora’s Box store manager Tommy Morgan. “We’re kind of a novelty and smoking accessory store. We carry anything a 420 or 710 enthusiast would dig. But even if you don’t smoke, we have clothes, crystals and cool hippy things.”

For pleasure, or pain relief

Whether it’s for pleasure, pain management or relaxation, there’s something for everyone according to Morgan.

The glass, however, is the main attraction.

“People have been excited about the glass (bongs and pipes), they’re happy about the reasonable prices and the selection,” Morgan said. “We didn’t want to do the tourist prices — we charge the same as we do in our eastern Oregon stores.”

The adult section has been also been popular.

“I have been surprised by the adult section,” Morgan said. “I have couples come in, spot it, and say ‘Oh, it’s over there honey.’”

Kratom powder and CBD oil has been a popular with customers seeking alternative pain management options. Sales have been somewhat sporadic overall, however, with $15 to $500 days.

“A $300 day is nice for here,” Morgan said.

Going coastal

With locations in Umatilla, Pendleton, and Kennewick and Richland, Washington, there was a search for the ideal coastal location Morgan said.

“We started in Hermiston in the late 80s and have expanded and expanded,” Morgan said. Oceanside was consideration before the ideal opportunity opened up at 734 Broadway in Seaside.

“It was once an old bank,” Morgan said pointing to a black and white 8x10 depicting First State Bank, a former tenant. “The old vault is the porn vault now,” he joked.